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Our Streets Transportation Funding Conversation

Learn more about the proposed Portland Street Fund

After months of public input, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and City Commissioner Steve Novick proposed a Portland Street Fund that will more than double the City’s pavement maintenance budget. The Street Fund investments will also make it safer for children to walk to school and for seniors to walk to transit stops, by filling in missing sidewalks and making crossing improvements at dangerous intersections.

The fund will provide about $15 million a year for preventive maintenance for street pavement in the first three years – investments that are estimated to prevent the need for more than $650 million in costly rebuilds, over a ten year period.

Individuals, meanwhile, will pay rates related to their ability to pay. For example, a couple making between $40,000 and $60,000 a year will pay $5 a month, while a couple making between $60,000 and $75,000 a year will pay $7.50 a month.

The Portland Street Fund results from the Our Streets PDX transportation funding conversation that started in January. The City Council considered a Transportation User Fee in May, but decided to seek more public input on ways to reduce charges for low-income residents and businesses, and provide a discount for non-profits.

The fund will allocate 56 percent of net revenue to maintenance, and 44 percent to safety projects, with the understanding that many projects accomplish both goals. Just under 40 percent of the first three years of safety improvements will be made in East Portland.

“Preventive maintenance saves money in the long run,” Transportation Director Leah Treat said. “The Portland Street Fund will provide $45 million in the first three years, and at that rate after 10 years, we can avoid spending more than $650 million in more expensive road rebuilds. Our crews are working hard to provide the right treatment at the right place, at the right time.”

After a first hearing on Nov. 20, the Portland City Council has decided to schedule an additional meeting to consider two amendments. The first would have the fund "sunset" after six years without Council action and the second would ensure current funding levels for street maintenance will continue. Those amendments will be considered Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. The Council is then expected to vote on the amended proposal Dec. 10.

If you have questions regarding this effort, please contact project staff at ourstreetspdx@portlandoregon.gov. If you email comments addressed to the City Council, we will share them with council offices as well. You can also join the conversation on Twitter by following us @PBOTInfo and using the tag #ourstreetspdx.